Paddles Process

One-of-a-kind paddles, individually designed,
sketched and painted in acrylics

My paddles are sourced locally from seconds; giving each paddle another chance to shine. They look beautiful hanging indoor in any home or cottage. The paddle styles vary from the Voyageur, Beaver Tail or Otter Tail paddle. The wood types may be Ash, Birch, Maple or Cherry. Most paddles are approximately 52" in length and 5-6 inches in width.

The Process

What is consistent is the process I use for creating each paddle. I select the paddle I'm going to use based on the design created from a reference image. My reference images may be sourced from a customer, my own collection of photos or from a hand picked group of Photographers that I follow and work with online. Once my digital design is completed I print it and overlay it onto the paddle. Once I feel the look is right for what I want to achieve I start preparing the paddle. This involves sealing the wood first. Then applying two coats of Gesso. Once dry I sketch the design by hand. I use acrylics as my painting medium. Once complete, I'll paint the back of the paddle black, sign it & give it a name. Then I apply two coats of clear varnish. It is a lengthy process. Each step needs to dry before moving forward to the next step. The end result is always rewarding.